The fragile nature of Europe’s lakes and reservoirs has seen an increase in the level of monitoring of their current state. COST’s role in linking up scientists across the continent has been crucial, with one researcher being inspired to raise awareness on a local level.

Food insecurity is deadly – 9 million people die of hunger and hunger-related illnesses annually. This problem is set to continue, with the global population predicted to rise from 6.9 billion in 2010 to 9.8 billion people by 2050.

A network of 100 practitioners and researchers from 32 European countries is promoting the use of robots and other assistive technologies that help children with disabilities play on their own or with other children.

In an attempt to reduce the impact of ash dieback, researchers in COST Action FRAXBACK joined forces and identified the origin and biology of the fungus. They are now proposing a series of guidelines that will help manage Europe’s ash tree woodlands in a more sustainable way.

Hospitals across Europe can use magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to examine our organs and soft tissue such as breasts and brains, helping doctors to diagnose problems and plan treatment. Another sophisticated scanning technology known as positron emission tomography (PET) is used to diagnose diseases such as cancer by detecting gamma rays from ‘tracer’ molecules introduced to the body prior to scanning.

Diagnosing and treating neuropsychiatric disorders are among the biggest challenges in modern medicine. While the brain is highly complex, scientists have been learning more about how it works – and what happens when things go wrong.

Photosynthesis is the unique natural process that converts energy from sunlight into chemical energy. Understanding the photochemical reactions behind this essential phenomenon has the potential to deliver new sources of green energy as well as instruments that detect environmental pollution and food contamination.

With half of the world’s population now living in urban areas, the latest data show that the future’s smart, sustainable cities will have to shelter around 6 billion people by 2050. This is already changing the way urban areas are designed and built.